James Harden says change of venue could be a good thing

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For all the Rockets must do differently or just better than they had in the first two games of their series with the Trail Blazers, Rockets guard James Harden said changing the venue might help, too.

The Trail Blazers have a home-court advantage at the Moda Center considered among the best in the NBA, but Harden said playing in Portland could offer a needed jolt to the Rockets, too.

“I think we’re too calm at home, too calm like it’s going to be too easy,” Harden said. “Even though we had opportunities to win both games, this is a great test for us. This is going to be game-changing of the season right here, getting a win in Portland.

“We know this is all for us. It’s everything we got tonight. We know it’s going to be a hostile environment, but we have to go out there and execute, do the small things to win us the game. It’s not so much the home run plays; it’s the small things that will help us prevail.”

Only three teams have ever come back to win a series after losing the first two games at home.

“We’re on the road,” Rockets guard Pat Beverley said. “The arena is going to be ecstatic in here. We have to use that negative energy and try to get a win. It’s not going to be easy at all. We understand that. It’s going to be a grind. We understand that. But we have to change some things and we have to focus on a win.”